Remembering Badrinarayana Swami
I learned that Badrinarayana Swami passed away today (February 26, 2026) in Vrindavan. When I hear that someone I know passed away in the holy dhama, I see that as confirmation that Krishna accepted the devotee’s service.
When I moved to San Diego in the summer of 1988 to work with Sadaputa Prabhu, Badrinarayana Prabhu became my temple president and GBC.
Badrinarayana was very appreciative of Sadaputa Prabhu’s work and very respectful toward him. Although Badrinarayana acted as temple president and we were often understaffed, he was careful to not engage me in so much temple service that it interfered with my service to Sadaputa Prabhu.
As a leader, Badrinarayana considered it important to do temple service and in this way lead by his example. Every week he offered one mangala-arati, dressed the Govardhan-sila once, and made one daily sweet for their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Giridhari. At mangala-arati, instead offering a small plate of a few flowers, he would offer an entire arati tray filled with colorful, fragrant flowers that he had grown himself. The Bhagavatam class was during the time of the deity dressing, and he would dress the deities on Wednesdays, the day Sadaputa Prabhu would give class. At the end of the class, he would peek out from behind the curtain and ask a relevant question or make a relavant comment. His daily sweet, served on Thursday, was the best one of the week. It was cashew or almond burfi made with roasted nuts ground to a paste and mixed with saffron and rose water, and it tasted heavenly.
Badrinarayana’s classes were special. He would have a few points, and he would tell a story to illustrate each one, and often the story would be about Srila Prabhupada.
Once Pauly Shore and his MTV camera crew encountered our harinama party on Pacific Beach, and Badrinarayana told us his daughter saw us on TV.
I had some difficulties in devotional service at one point, and Badrinarayana was supportive in helping me past them.
During my time in San Diego I dressed every deity at least once, except Radha-Giridhari in the morning, and I cooked every offering at least once, except raja-bhoga. Thus practically all my deity and cookie services I learned in San Diego.
I have happy memories of those days in San Diego, and Badrinarayana Prabhu, later Badrinarayana Swami, was a big part of them.
